In every sense it was a fitting finale for IPL 2026. A 90,000 plus crowd at the biggest cricket facility in the country, the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. And, what is more, the finishing touches were provided in great style by who else but the veteran of many such battles, Virat Kohli to bring cheers to the multitudes of Royal Challenger Bangalore supporters. Kohli’s penchant for the big occasion came through bright and beautiful as he sent the ball into the crowd for the final stroke to victory. What Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings had done earlier, RCB followed by winning the title for the second time in succession. Perhaps the only low point on an otherwise rousing day’s show was the inability of Gujarat Titans to make a match of it. A closer fight would have injected even more excitement but GT could not raise an imposing target and it was too much to expect for the bowling department to do the rest. Not, when someone like Kohli was there and as it happened also his opening partner Venkatesh Iyer who was in such aggressive touch.
Overall, the IPL which ran for about a month and a half proved such a spectacle that it was no surprise that the event as always triggered a cricket mania in the country. No matter the oppressive weather, even the nights were so uncomfortable for most part, there were enough numbers in the galleries to prove that nothing is beyond the excitement that the game provided. Yes, there were disappointments when it came to performances. The way MI and CSK, the two most successful outfits slipped and went away from contention was a big surprise but in the end the message was clear, either perform or perish. That in the end questions were raised on the utility value of established players showed how IPL had become the forum for discovering talent and also assessing values. Players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have surely been hit by the storm of criticism and only time will tell the eventual damage or changes that would come to their career.
On the positive side what this edition of the IPL came up with was the discovery of a 15-year old brilliant prodigy in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi even as it emphasised that there was no substitute for experienced talents like Kohli. Sooryavanshi has proved a phenomenon and this youngster, if he keeps his head in place, could go places. Already he has become a world cricket celebrity and no bowler, may he be the world’s most reputed or someone coming up the ranks can make any impression on him. His bat provides telling answers to them all. That towards the final stages of the IPL, bowlers thought of a bodyline bowling approach to him only highlighted the frustration of the ball-slingers. This approach drew immediate reaction from critics who thought someone so young should not be treated that way. Why, a ball from GT’s pacer Rabada even hit flush on Sooryavanshi’s helmet raising moments of concern. It is a different matter that the youngster made light of all that by smashing his way to 96 in just 47 balls!
The Bihar boy has been the toast of this IPL, so much so like Sachin Tendulkar in his heady days, cricket lovers waited for his classic show each time he began the innings for Rajasthan Royals. Seldom did he fail though as it happened, a century kept eluding him just when round the corner. He had only one century to show despite being close to a few more. The way he hoisted the bowlers, particularly the speed merchants to all parts of the stadium usually made the night for the vast gathering who apparently had perhaps little interest on the final result more than what the young man does with his bat! Not surprisingly then Sooryavanshi kept registering new records and in the end, he became the youngest orange cap winner, having piled up 776 runs in 16 innings besides being declared the ‘Most Valuable Player’.
Followers of the sport firmly believe, this Bihar lad is the future of Indian cricket, may be in the shorter version. As the South African veteran A B de Villiers puts it he had to show his ability in the other formats too for the approach varied in every version. For someone so gifted, he should be able to pass the test is another view but one thing is sure for now, Indian cricket has discovered a phenomenon, who not only inspires himself but so many more dreaming young cricket-bat wielders. Since it is T20 that is the rage now in cricket, surely Sooryavanshi is assured of a special honour for his incredible acts on the field. And there is more to come for sure.
Talk of age and cricket, if Sooryavanshi has proved that 15 years is good enough to rule in midst of men, a veteran who is pushing 38, Kohli had just one message, that form can be temporary but class is permanent. The fluency he displayed in the middle, be it in stroking the ball around or hoisting it over the boundary, Kohli showed the kind of elegance that has become part of his cricketing image. The six he hit to finish off the final and declare his team RCB the winner in style was enough to hail him as one of the best cricketers that Indian cricket has produced. And look at his record. He has the most scores of 75 or more in T20 finals. In the final his half century came in 25 balls, his quickest in IPL and there will be more from this veteran, whose love for the game had to be seen to be believed. So involved is he. How appropriate then that it was his grand batting that became the highlight on the final day of the IPL 2026!